Director of the National Museum of the U.S. Army Paul Morando uses the “HistoPad” in the museum’s “American Revolution: The Augmented Exhibition,” on April 24, 2026. The new exhibit opens to public on Saturday, April 25, 2026. (Kaylyn Barnhart Batista/Stars and Stripes)
FORT BELVOIR, Va. — As visitors enter the National Museum of the United States Army’s new augmented reality exhibit, instead of being handed a pamphlet, they receive a tablet that transports them across centuries to scenes of the American Revolution.
“American Revolution: The Augmented Exhibition” opens to the public on Saturday in advance of the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence.
The exhibit, which is free of charge, is expected to run through at least 2027.
Although the exhibit features no physical artifacts, the augmented experience brings to life 20 key events, settings and people in immersive 3D that tell the story of the American Revolution.
“American Revolution: The Augmented Exhibition” at the National Museum of the U.S. Army in Fort Belvoir, Va., on April 24, 2026. The exhibit opens to the public on Saturday, April 25, 2026 in celebration of the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. (Kaylyn Barnhart Batista/Stars and Stripes)
“You can dig deeper into different soldiers who served, leaders who served, the places where the war came to, and it’s done in a fun way, while you’re also learning,” said Paul Morando, director of the museum.
Morando hopes to highlight lesser-known stories of the time and bring attention to individuals and experiences that are often overlooked but pivotal, such as the Noble Train of Artillery in 1775, when Col. Henry Knox led an expedition to move captured artillery from Fort Ticonderoga, N.Y., to Boston, he said.
“A lot of research and content development went into this experience,” Morando said.
Visitors take the “HistoPad” and scan interactive stations to travel back to that time period. By moving the device, they can explore a 360-degree view of each scene while reading and listening to contextual information.
Visitors can use the “HistoPad” and scan interactive stations to travel back to that time period. By moving the device, they can explore a 360-degree view of each scene while reading and listening to contextual information. “American Revolution: The Augmented Exhibition” is a free exhibit and opens to the public on Saturday, April 25, 2026. (Kaylyn Barnhart Batista/Stars and Stripes)
“American Revolution: The Augmented Exhibition” at the National Museum of the U.S. Army in Fort Belvoir, Va., on April 24, 2026. The exhibit opens to the public on Saturday, April 25, 2026 in celebration of the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. (Kaylyn Barnhart Batista/Stars and Stripes)
Figures displayed throughout the exhibit can also be scanned, allowing visitors to learn more about the historical individuals they represent.
A timeline slider feature allows visitors to move between past and present, comparing what each scene looked like during the American Revolution and how it appears today.
For example, users can shift from 1776 to the present day at sites like Lexington Green in Massachusetts, which still exists. While it is not possible to fully recreate being there in the past, the exhibit offers the closest experience by showing what has changed, and what has remained the same, such as nearby buildings, landscapes, or trees, Morando said.
“I think people are more engaged when they see that,” Morando said, adding that it can inspire visitors to travel and experience the historic sites in person.
Development on the augmented exhibition began shortly after the museum’s “Call to Arms: The Soldier and the Revolutionary War” exhibit opened in June 2025 to commemorate the Army’s 250th anniversary. It is designed as a digital interpretation of “Call to Arms.”
“We wanted to do something a little different and unique,” Morando said. “We want visitors to feel connected.”
